Smoke filter for tobacco pipes



April 4; 1944. s. KLUGHERZ- SMOKE FILTER FOR TOBACCO PIPES INVENTOR'.

Samue Z 11f hy/wrz iazwww Patented Apr. 4, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE 2,345,676 SMOKE FILTER FOR TOBACCO PIPES Samuel Klugherz,Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Application August 11,1942, Serial No. 454,354

1 Claim. (01. 13 -202) This invention relates to smoke filters fortobacco pipesand has particular reference to an improved filter of thischaracter which serves to effectively absorb the liquid which collectsin the smoke passage of a pipe stem so as to prevent the same fromreaching the mouth of the smoker, thus contributing to the enjoyment ofpipe smoking by liminating the possibility of concentrated nicotine andother impurities in the liquid coming into contact with the smokersmouth.

The invention comprehends in a smoke filter of the indicated character,a filter element composed of a flocculent .fibrous medium capable ofintercepting and absorbing the liquid which finds its way into the smokepassage of the pipe stem, and this without materially interfering withthe free drawing of the smoke through the stem and bit, together withmeans associated with the filter element for facilitating theemplacement and removal of the same and. which means also functions tolocate and retain the filter in place, with the filter element adjacentto the forward end of the bit and in spaced relation to the bowl of thepipe.

As a further object, the invention is directed to an improved smokefilter in which the filter element thereof is carried'by a relativelyrigid strip which is so associated with the filter element as to avoidundue compaction of the fibers thus leaving the fibers of the outerportion thereof uncompacted to thereby insure free and easy drawing ofthe smoke through the pipe while effectively intercepting and separatingthe liquid from the smoke.

More particularly the invention resides in a smoke filter consisting ofa filter element and a relatively rigid strip having a looped or twistedcentral portion engaging the filter element for retaining the same inassociated relation therewith and opposite end portions extending inopposite directions from the filter element and serving as means forfacilitating the emplacement of the filter in the smoke passage of thepipe so as to position the filter element adjacent to the forward end ofthe bit and the opposite end portions of the strip disposed in the smokepassages of the bit and pipe stem respectively.

As a still further object the invention aims to provide an improvedsmoke filter for tobacco pipes which may be so economically produced andsold as to justify the discarding of the same by the purchaser aftervery limited use thereof.

With the above recited and other objects in view, the invention is setforth in greater detail in the following specification and illustratedin the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a tobacco pipe showingthe smoke filter in applied position within the smoke passage.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken approximately onthe line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the filter removed from thepipe.

Fig. 4 is a similar view illustrating a modified form of the filter.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference, A designates thebowl of a tobacco pipe which is provided with the usual stem B having asmoke passage C extending longitudinally thereof and communicating atits forward end with the lower portion of the bowlA. The rear end of thesmoke passage C is enlarged and receives the reduced forward end D ofthe bit or mouth invention is designated generally by the referencecharacter G and as shown in Figures 1 to 3 includes a filter element I0of raw cotton or any other equivalent material which provide anabsorbent, flocculent fibrous medium capable of in tercepting andabsorbing the liquids or juices which collect in the smoke passagewithout interfering with the free drawing and passage of the smoketherethrough.

In order to provide means for facilitating the handling of the filterelement In when emplacing the same in the smoke passage C of the pipestem B or removing the same therefrom while serving as means forlocating and retaining the filter element in proper position, a strip ofrelatively rigid material such as wire or any equivalent material isemployed which is formed with a looped or twisted central portion llextending through and grippingly engaging the longitudinal centralportion of said filter element for securing the strip and filter elementtogether while the fibers of the outer portion of said filter elementare uncompacted and disposed in surrounding relation with said loopedportion so as to efiectively intercept and separate the liquid from thesmoke and at the same time insure free and easy drawing of the smokethrough the pipe.

As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 the strip consists of a plurality ofstrands of fine gage wire which are twisted together at their ends toprovide twisted opposite end portions l2 and I3 and intermediate saidend portions the strands are separated to form the looped portion l I,the separated strands of which engage the longitudinal central portionof the filter element for securing the strip and the filter elementtogether while the twisted end portions of the strip extend outwardlyfrom the filter element in opposite directions.

The end portions or terminals [2 and I3 are of the same length which issuch that when the filter is inserted in the smoke passage C of the pipestem B, the forward end of the strip will protrude through the smokepassage and abut against the wall of the bowl to thereby space thefilter element from the restricted forward end of said smoke passagewhile disposingthe element adjacent to the forward end of the bitormouth piece E in a position to filter or strain the smoke before :thesame enters the smoke passage F thereof, so

as to separate the liquid from the smoke and absorb and retain saidliquid in the fibers of the filter element Hi, thus preventing theliquid from reaching the smokers mouth.

After the filter element H) has become saturated with the liquid, whichusually occurs after several smokings, the filter G may be readilyremoved from the pipe by first taking out the bit or mouth piece or bitE. This exposes the rearwardly projecting end portion or terminal 13 ofthe strip so that the filter may be conveniently handled without havingto touch the saturated filter element It]. A fresh filter G may then bereadily emplaced in the pipe by inserting the forwardly projecting endportion or terminal l2 of the strip through the smoke passage C andagainst the portion of the wall of the pipe bowl A which is opposite tothe entrance of the smoke passage.

It has been observed that the insertion of the forward end portion orterminal it of the strip functions to automatically clear the restrictedforward portion of the smoke passage C of the pipe stem of tobaccoparticles or other obstructions so that the mere emplacement of thefilter in the pipe eliminates the necessity of using pipe cleaners.

After the fresh filter has been initially introduced into the stem B ofthe pipe, the bit or mouth piece E is replaced by positioning theforward portion of the smoke passage F thereof over the rearwardlyprojecting end portion or terminal l3 of the strip and the pipe is thenready to smoke without further attention until a fresh filter isrequired.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figure 4 of the drawing,the relatively rigid strip is shown as constructed of a single strand offine gage wire having an intermediate spirally looped portion l5engaging the longitudinal core portion of the absorbent, fiocculent,fibrous filter element I0 and in this instance the opposite end portionsor terminals l6 and H are of straight linear form and respectivelyproject forwardly and rearwardly from the filter element. In all otherrespects the filter and its mode of use and function are identical withthat of the previous form shown and described.

I claim:

The combination with a tobacco pipe including a bowl having a stemportion formed with a smoke passage extending therethrough andcommunicating at its forward end with the interior of the bowl andhaving an enlarged rear end and a bit having a longitudinal smokepassage telescopically fitted at its forward end into the enlarged rearend of the smoke passage of the pipe stem, of a smoke filter including arelatively rigid strip of smaller cross-sectional size than the smokepassages of the stem and bit and a filter element composed of anabsorbent fiocculent fibrous material secured to and surrounding themedial portion of the strip to provide oppositely projecting terminalsconstituting means for handling the filter so as to emplace the filterelement wholly within the enlarged rear end of the smoke passage of thestem and for removing the same therefrom, the

forwardly projecting terminal of the strip extending through the smokepassage of the stem and engaging the wall of the bowl at a locationopposite the smoke passage to space the filter element from therestricted forward end of the stem smoke passage and locating saidfilter element in abutting relation to the forward end of the bit withthe rearwardly projecting terminal of the strip engaging in the bitsmoke passage to retain the filter element centralized in the stem smokepassage.

SAMUEL KL-UGHERZ.

